Plugboard assembly



Feb. 23, 1965 Filed Jan. 11, 1963 A. AKSU PLuGBoARn ASSEMBLY 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR H m N A KSU Feb. 23, 1965 A, AKsu 3,170,746

PLUGBOARD ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. l1, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent() 3,170,746 PLUGBOARD ASSEMBLY` Akin Aksu, Harrisburg, Pa.,assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Filed Jan. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 250,815 4 Claims. (Qi. 3395-18) Thisinvention relates to improvements in plugboard devices of the type'usedto program electronic computers, oiice equipment andthe like. Y

In U.S. Patent No. 2,975,395, issued March 14, 1961, to G. C. Sitz,there is described a specialized electrical switch or multiple connectorknown in the art as a plugboard or patchboard. The Sitz type assemblyincludes a rear bay carrying a matrix of contact spring members and afront bay carrying a complementary matrix of contact pin members. Theframe of a rear bay includes a hinge mechanism fastened at the bottomthereof adapted to receive and secure a front bay and uponclosureoperate to cam the front bay upwardly driving pin members into contactwith spring members in a particular movement of `closure providing goodelectrical contact between pin and contact members. Through thisoperation sub-components of electronic systems may be selectivelyinterconnected through paths leading to vrear bayspring'members incontact-*with front bay pin members interconnected in pairs bypatchcords. As taught lin the Sitz patent, a front I l:bay may beremoved and reinserted with different patterns of patchboards to deinedistinctive electronic system programs by interconnection of dierentelectronic compornents.-

In certain.` instances wherein there is no` needfor speed or whereinprograms are infrequently changed, only a single` front bay isprovided;the front bay being withdrawn, manually reprogrammed and reinserted whenthe occasion arises. Infother instances, circumstances may dictate theprovision of ten or'twelve` frontbays which can be, alternatively,rapidly placed into a given rear bay and driven to yprovide a differentprogram.

In both'the above vmentioned situations, itis highly -desirableto avoidiinalclosure ofV bays-until exactly the proper moment when systemvcomponent interconnection `is required.'l It is lequally.importantAthat no .accidental opening; occur oncea front'bay has `been installedand .closurefeglected .Asfa further requirement, itshould notbe-possible toins'ert or Withdraw a front bay from a rear bay Vassemblyuntil andlunless the cammin'gmechathereofv is `in the` proper positionwhere pin and f damaged-by striking each other.

,spring members haverelative free travel `so as not be While'jthe ty-peof assembly shown in the-.Sitz patent",4

respect tot small or medium size plugboards, a new plugvboard assemblyof simpler construction has been developed which is particularly welladapted for larger sizes `meets theforegoing requirementsl quitesatisfactorily with v Y Y l'mj Patented Feb, 23, 1935 ice vention; it isto be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to beexhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes ofillustration in order that others skilled in the art may fullyunderstand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner ofapplying it in practical use so that they may modify it in variousforms, each as may be best suited to the Y conditions of a particularuse.

front bay upwardly carrying the pin members thereof Y into engagementwith the spring members of the rear bay to effect interconnection ofdesirable circuit paths.

VFurther included in the rear bay in each side of the .trame member atthe bottom portion is a latch mechai nism adapted to. receive and securea front bay through cooperation with latch pins integral with the bottomsides thereof. The positioning of each latch mechanism rela- -tive tothe latch pins is such that upon rst closure of ,the front bay eachlatch mechanism will be cammed upwardly. and .then returned `downwardlyby spring pres-k sure to hold the front bay in position withinvthe frameof the rear'bay. Further provided as part of each latch vmechanism is afeature limiting the upward travelsuch that once the front bay has beencamrnediupwardlyeachy latch'mechanism is then locked to. precludewithdrawal ,p ofthe front bay. until after operationof the cammingmechanism to'l drop the front bay to the initial position followinginstallation.

i Y speciiic characteristics of the4.invention, as well l Masot-heradvantages thereof, will be more fullyl brought outfrom lthefollowing description takenfin conjunc- VVtion with drawingsincluding:Vv Y

A FIGURE 1,`;showing perspective of a plugboard assem- .-bly ,having aportion4 sectionedfto reveall the latching mechanism ofthe invention; Y

1 I` v lFIGURE, 2',.showing an-exploded View of thev latching' mechanismof the invention;

FIGURE 3, showing'a sectional plan view ofvthe'lockn ing mechanism ofthe invention; and g `FIGURES .4p-7, showing elevations of the latchingmechanism ofinvention infvariouspositions of opera-k Y Vtion `relativeto the movement of-the latch pin of a front,V Y

tvherein'oneV or several thousand' contact pathsy are ,proj vided; Itisazprincipalobiect of` this invention to pro` vide Aa noveljlatchmechanism in cbmbination with this newly developed plugboard assembly.y

, It isa further object ofinve'ntin tofprovide a ,novel latch mechanism'for plugboard assemblies operable to prevent accidental openingor-closing of the- Contact carrying bays thereof.

It is another object of ,invention to provide a simple i. vand reliable'mechanism within the rearbay of aV plug- L board assembly` adapted`toboth latch and'locka front baytherewithin. 4 Y t Other objects andVattainments of the present inven tionwill become apparent to thoseskilled inthe art upon'a reading of-thejfollowing detailed descriptionwhen 1 2 is a matrixV or contact `spring members 14 secured in Vfourinsulating panel members 15 rigidly secured tofra'me members 16, 1S, 20andZZ. Contact'spring members 14 and panel members, Y1.5 are of the typeshown in the abovellntione'd Sitz patent. "20 and 22. are of milledstainlesssteel ork aluminum `bar fstock suitably secured at their endsby screws,` rivets or t vthe like. To the rear of bay 12 and not shown,individual Velectrical conductors are secured to each of the con- -Framemembers 16, 18,

.fvtact spring` members. lforming signal paths to and from taken inconjunction with thedrawings in which there is'r shown and describedillustrative embodimentsof y'the -in- 'various electronic componentssought to be interconnected 'by operation of assembly 10. Y i t f j f YSupported by and secured to cross 'pieces 2 2 of thev frame isVarbearing support 24 centrally disposed to carry carnjmembers'zdatone-vend thereof. Theotherendsof members "26 are carried by a bearingsurface in the lower The frame of the rear bay is slotted at the FIGURE1 depicts aplugboard assembly 10 including Va rear bayr12 having afrontibay 38 mounted Vtherein in ,an initial position of installation. tCarried inrrear bay 3 `portion of side pieces 16 and 18 of frame 12 andinclude 'extensions through such side pieces to engage cam arms 30 and34 as indicated by numeral 28 with respect to arm 30. Cam arms 30 and 34are locked to cams 26 and rotation of arms 30 and 34 will operate todrive cam members 26 in an identical rotary movement. Arms 30 and 34 areshown in FIGURE l in the fully opened position; the fully closedposition being parallel to frame side pieces 16 and 18 with the upperface of each arm resting against the olfset on each side piece indicatedby numeral 17 with respect to side piece 16. Handles 32 and`36 areuseful in rotating arms 30 and 34 downwardly from the closed position.

Adapted to be positioned within frame 12 is a front bay 38 having arigid frame 40 mounting four insulating panel members 42 apertured as at43 to receive pin assemblies interconnected in pairs by patchcords suchas 45. Frame 40 may be comprised of stainless steel or aluminum stocksuitably milled to accommodate panels 42; or as in the preferredconstruction shown in FIGURE 1 may be comprised of an interior frame ofock filled phenolic resin member 46 surrounded by stainless steel barmembers 47. At opposite corners secured to the vertical members of frame40 are projecting pin members; the upper pin members (not shown) beingsimilar to lower pin members 52 and 54. Also attached to the side piecesof frame 40 are handle members 48 employed to lift and manipulate frontbay 38.

Located at the bottom interior of rear bay 12 are latch mechanisms 66and 68 positioned in slots 62 and 64 of side pieces 16 and 18. As shownin FIGURE 1, the latch mechanisms are set back into side pieces 16 and18 so as to provide free travel of frame 40 of 38 into the face of 12.Each mechanism 66 and 68 is positioned so as to be engaged by one of thepin members 52 and 54 as 38 is closed into 12.

Operation of assembly calls for an initial placement of front bay 38 asshown in FIGURE 1 with the upper pin members resting in pivotalrelationship within slots in plate members 19 and 21 set into the sidepieces 16 and 18 of 12. Following this initial placement, front bay 38may be swung downwardly and into the face of rear bay 12 pivoted on theupper pin members. As 38 enters the face of 12, pin members 52 and 54engage the lower forward surfaces of each latch mechanism 66 and 68,respectively, driving such upwardly to be returned under spring pressurein a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. With 38 fully seatedwithin 12, latch mechanisms 66 and 68 serve to hold 38 within the faceof 12 by holding pin members 52 and 54 against withdrawal.

Because of this, front bay 38'is latched against outward movementregardless of the attitude of assembly 12 and even in the presence ofjars, shocks or substantial gravitational forces applied to assembly 10through the dis-A v placement of the vehicle, craft or other housing inwhich assembly 10 is situated. Furthermore, with front bay 38 latched byassemblies 66 and 68, a proper alignment of 38 is assured with respectto cams 26. With 38 in the closed position, arms 30 and 34- may berotated upwardly Y to drive cams 26 into engagement with the lowersurface 39 of frame 40 and thereby drive the pin members of the frontbay into a particular wiping contact withthe spring members of the rearbay to perform a given programming function in the same manner as taughtin the Sitz patent. As will be apparent from the description further tobe given, with arms 30 and 34 in the upward position and the spring andpin members inclosure, front bay 38 is locked within 12 and cannot bewithdrawn therefrom until arms 30 and 34 and cams 26 have been rotatedto place further operate to lock front bay 38 within rear bay 12. When38 is latched within 12 it may be withdrawn by pulling on handles 48 ina sharp outward movement. When assembly 38 is locked within 12, noamount of pulling or other force will operate to move 38 with respect to12.

Considering now the latching mechanisms of the invention in greaterdetail, FIGURE 2 shows the assembly 66 exploded relative to slot 62 ofside piece 16. Latching mechanism 68 fitted within side piece 18 isidentical in function and substantially the same in structure havingcertain portions reversed for obvious reasons.

Within slot 62 is a centrally disposed channel 65 and two steppedapertures 70 each having relieved portions 71. The configuration of eachaperture is such as to receive in a close fit stepped pin members 74each having a lower portion 76 and an enlarged upper portion 78 adaptedto nest within complementary bores of the respective apertures as shownmore clearly in FIGURE 3. Each of the pin members 74 is internallythreaded in portion 76 to receive externally threaded screw portions 73of members 72 which operate to secure pin members 74 against relativemovement with respect to side piece 16. The enlarged diameter portion 78of pin members 74 is of a length to define a space when the pin membersare fully seated slightly greater than the thickness of a latch plate80. Each pin member 74 includes a head portion 79 adapted to hold plate80 and is of a length when fully seated so as not to project within theface area of rear bay 12 and interfere with the movement of closure offront bay 38.

Adapted to fit within slot 62 is latch plate 80 having longitudinalslots 94 by which 80 is held against all but sliding movement by theportions 78 of pin members 74.

Plate member 80 in the preferred embodiment is made of stainless steelsuitably drilled and formed to include at one end beveled edge 82 and atthe other end beveled edge 84 serving to eliminate manufacturingtolerance problems with respect to what otherwise might be sharp edgeshindering sliding movements of plate 80 in slot 62. At the end adjoiningedge 84 and integral with plate 80 is a pointed portion 86 defining aforward cam surface 88 and a rearward cam surface 90 abutting a camsurface 92 approximately transverse to the longitudinal axis of 80.Further included as an integral part of 80 is a bent out tab portion 98having a spring stop portion 100 adapted to hold one end of a relativelystii compression spring 102 against one end of channel 65.

The assembly lforming the latching mechanism of the invention isassembled as shown in FIGURE 3 with the plate member 80 held against allbut longitudinal movement within slot 62 by the cooperation of slots 94with portions 78 of pins 74. Spring 102 is Vheld within channel by plate80 and engagement with 100 and by further engagement with channel 65. Itis preferred that spring 102 have a length and characteristics such asto drive plate 80 under considerable force against pins 74 in theposition shown in FIGURE 3; the position existing when rear bay 12 doesnot contain a front bay.

With the latching mechanism of the invention thus decribed, theoperation thereof in performing both the latching and locking functionsmentioned above will now be outlined. FIGURE 4 depicts 80 in theposition the assembly in the open position. This feature precludes Aaccidental damage to either pin or contact spring members throughpremature attempts to withdraw the front bay from the rear bay.

Mechanisms 66 and 68 thus operate to both latch front I bay 38 withinrear bay 12 before interconnection of circuit pathsis called for and,following interconnection,

shown in FIGURE 3, the rest position. As front bay 38 is closed thelatch pin members thereof including pin 52 will be driven in the arcuatepath indicated by the arrow in FIGURES 1 and 4. As 38 continues in thepath of closure, member 52 will strike the forward surface 88 of 86 asindicated in FIGURE 5, the slope of which will produce a resultant forcedriving plate in travel along 62 limited by the diameter of 52 and theline of travel thereof. As 52 moves further inwardly Ythe apex of 86will be passed and 52 will contact face and face 92, plate 80 beingdriven downwardly by spring 102 to the position indicated in FIGURE 6.At this point, front bay 38 is latched within rear bay 12 Y and removalor withdrawal of 3:8 may be accomplished by pulling outwardly on handlest8 with a force sufiicient to result in forces exceeding the springforce of springs 102 in both mechanisms 66 and 68. 1

In the manner described with respect to FIGURE l, final movement ofclosure effected by rotation of arms Si) and 34 operates to drive frontbay 38 upwardly to cause pin members to engage contact springs of rearbay 12. FIGURE 7 depicts the movementl of latch mechanism 66 caused bythe coincident displacement of pin member 52. In the position shown,plate titl is stopped against further movement in slot 62 by pins 74engaging the surfaces 95 of apertures 94. As will be apparent fromFIGURE 7, the configuration of plate' surfaces 86 and 90 taken inconjunction withthe disposition of plate bfi positively'precludeswithdrawal of front bay 38 by blocking forward movement of pin member52. Front bay 38 is then locked within. rear bay I2 and `cannot bewithdrawn until pinmember 52 is returned Y Vto the position shown inFIGURE 6 Afrom the position shown in FIGURE 7; which return necessitatesmovement of handles Pill and 34 to return cams26 and front baySt'downwardly'to the open position.

Removal of front bay 3S is accomplished in a reverse order from thatabove described with arms Sii and 34 rotated to drop 38 resulting inspring member 102 driving plate titl from the position shown in FIGURE 7to the position shown in FIGURE 6 permitting 38 to be swung outwardlyand removed from the assembly 10.

Thus the mechanisms 66 and 6d operate to both latch and lock a plugboardfront bay within a plugboard rearv bay.- The movement of the platemember mechanisms 66 and 63 is limited to approximately the verticalmovement of the front bay in the final movement of closure. Thisdistance is also defined by the differences in cam radius and furtherdefined by the spacing-between pin and contact spring members with theiront .bay positioned within the rear bay before closure.

Based upon the above distances and in conjunction with the foregoingteaching, plugboard assemblies may cluding latch means havingy springmeans, said latch means being driven upwardly by said pin means as saidlbe manufactured or modified to include the advantages of the presentinvention.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art andvarious apparently different modifications and embodiments may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forthin Vthe foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered byway of illustration only.

I claim:

1. An improved plugboard assembly including a rear bay havingkspringcontact members secured therein, a front bay pivotally supported in theface of the rear bay having pin contact members complementing the springContact members, the front bay being adapted to swing into the face ofthe rear bay with pin contact members spaced from the spring contactmembers by a given distance to permitbay closure, camming means securedto the rear bay operable to drive the front bay upwardly a verticaldistance greater than said vgiven distance to cause Vpin contact membersto bear against spring contact-members to eflect contact therebetween,pinmeans integral with said front bay, means disposed in the rear bayinfront bayis closed into said rear bay, and downwardly by said springmeans to latch the front bay against withdrawal from said rear bay, thelatch means having stops limiting travel thereof to a distanceapproximating said given distance whereby the -front bay is lockedwithin the rear bay following operation of said camming means.

2. The assembly of claim l, wherein said latch means comprises at leastone plate member havinga pointed extension defining forward and rearwardcam surfaces adapted to cooperate with said pin means to drive saidlatch means upwardly responsive to inward and outward movements of saidfront bay, the rearward cam surface operating to cooperate with said pinmeans to lock said front bay against withdrawal following operation ofsaid Acamming means.

3. Thelassembly of claim 2 wherein said plate member includes aperturesintersected by said stop means of ailength approximating said verticaldistance.

4. A latching and locking mechanism for plugboard assemblies of the typehaving a rear bay anda front bay adapted to be fitted therein and drivenin a parallel plane for a given distance to effect contact betweencontact members supported in each bay, including a latch plate to saidgiven direction and means linking said latch plate to limit movementthereof to a distance approximating said given distance to lock saidfront bay against withdrawal from said rear bay.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,594,737 Y Cunningham Apr. 29, 1952 2,594,748 Earl Apr. 29, 1952 sitzMar. 1, 1960

4. A LATCHING AND LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PLUGBOARD ASSEMBLIES OF THE TYPEHAVING A REAR BAY AND A FRONT BAY ADAPTED TO BE FITTED THEREIN ANDDRIVEN IN A PARALLEL PLANE FOR A GIVEN DISTANCE TO EFFECT CONTACTBETWEEN CONTACT MEMBERS SUPPORTED IN EACH BAY, INCLUDING A LATCH PLATEHAVING CAM SURFACES DISPOSED AT ONE END ADAPTED TO CAM SAID PLATE IN AGIVEN DIRECTION RESPONSIVE TO FRONT BAY MOVEMENT INTO OR OUT OF THE REARBAY, SPRING MEANS HELD BETWEEN THE REAR BAY AND A PORTION OF THT LATCHPLATE TO DRIVE SAID LATCH PLATE IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID GIVENDIRECTION AND MEANS LINKING SAID LATCH PLATE